Transcript Highlights:

• He added that the General Assembly would still have the capacity to create laws that exceed this, but
• He added that the state would be giving up that right, at least until it returned and changed the law
• He added that nobody is talking about getting rid of OSHA, and that equating it with the Department of
• We are adding some additional hours of supervision, and we are scaling back the amount of time that a
• We are adding some additional hours of supervision, and we are scaling back the amount of time that a

Keywords: Call to Order 00:00 Roll Call 16:20 HB 90 Discussion 17:00 HB 90 Vote 25:40 HB 398 Discussion 30:55 HB 398 Vote 38:52 HB 580 Discussion 40:10 HB 580 Vote 42:10 HB 87 Discussion 44:12 HB 87 Vote 44:54 HB 422 Discussion 46:00 HB 422 Vote 46:43 Adjournment 47:20, 958, all

Summary: The Senate Standing Committee on Licensing and Occupations met on March 12, 2025, after waiting for the Senate to adjourn so the committee could officially convene. The committee first took up House Bill 90, which concerned freestanding birthing centers and related medical language. Testimony from Representative Jason Nemes, Dr. Jeffrey Goldberg of ACOG Kentucky, and a representative from Kentucky Right to Life focused on clarifying what medical procedures are not abortions under Kentucky law, including miscarriage management, ectopic pregnancy, molar pregnancy, sepsis, hemorrhage, and stillbirth. Supporters said the committee substitute was intended to reduce confusion and barriers to care for physicians and patients, while Senator Armstrong and Senator Berg raised concerns about the late-arriving substitute, terminology, and whether the bill was being accurately described as supported by ACOG. The committee substitute and title amendment were adopted, and House Bill 90 passed with favorable expression. The committee then considered House Bill 398, relating to occupational safety and health. Representative Walker Thomas said the bill would prevent Kentucky from adopting or enforcing regulations stricter than federal OSHA standards, arguing it would create uniformity for businesses operating in multiple states while preserving worker safety. Senator Armstrong questioned what would happen if federal OSHA were eliminated and argued the bill could reduce Kentucky’s ability to address state-specific workplace hazards; Representative Thomas responded that Kentucky is a state-plan state and would retain the ability to act if needed, and that the measure was about administrative regulation rather than legislation. After a committee substitute was adopted, the bill passed 8-1, with Senator Armstrong voting no. House Bill 580, concerning alcohol and drug counselors and peer support specialists, was presented next. Representative Kim Moore and Elena Sweezy explained that the bill would add structure, training, and supervision requirements for peer support specialists, limit group settings to eight patients, shorten temporary peer support status to nine months, and require additional supervision hours so trainees can complete required training. The bill passed with favorable expression, with Senator Nemes voting no. House Bill 87, relating to employment and occupational licensing, followed; Representative Emily Callaway said it would reduce barriers for people with felony records and help “second chance” citizens enter the workforce. Several senators supported the goal but Senator McDaniel noted caution about substance-use billing and oversight, and the bill passed with favorable expression. Finally, House Bill 422, relating to administrative regulations, was described by Representative Derrick Lewis as a streamlining measure that would reduce paperwork and simplify the regulatory process. It also passed with favorable expression, and the committee then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's not just adding a few things in, adding a couple extra slots for dates.
• We were talking about adding additional personal identifying information within the bill.
• We were talking about adding additional. to decrease fraud, decrease, we're talking about adding additional
• And with the amendments added today, it could also further disenfranchise a voter.
• And with the amendments added today, it could also further disenfranchise a voter.

Summary: The Senate Committee on Ethics and Elections heard SPB 7016, a bill revising Florida’s citizen initiative petition process to address fraud, voter information, and ballot integrity. The bill and its amendments would add sponsor bonds and deposit requirements, require more identifying information from signers and circulators, bar certain felons and non-citizens from circulating petitions, require circulator training, shorten the time to submit signed petitions, require notices to voters whose signatures are verified, and change how financial impact statements are handled. Several amendments were adopted, including a $1 million bond framework, 10-point font and page limits for petition forms, a ban on incentive-based pay tied to petition counts or speed, removal of a requirement that fraud be proven by criminal conviction before administrative fines, county deposit and payment procedures for supervisors of elections, invalidation of petitions gathered by ineligible circulators, training requirements within 30 days, and a prohibition on public funds being used to advocate for or against constitutional amendments. Committee discussion focused heavily on implementation and fairness. Supporters, including the sponsor and the Florida Chamber of Commerce, argued the bill was needed to deter fraud, protect voter information, and ensure sponsors—not taxpayers—bear the costs of the initiative process. Supervisors of elections testified that county taxpayers should not subsidize petition verification, but also warned that some provisions would be difficult to implement quickly because of software and operational constraints. Senators raised questions about the bond cost, the 10-day submission deadline, notice to voters whose petitions are invalidated, the effect on returning citizens, and whether the bill could disenfranchise voters who sign petitions in good faith. Public testimony was overwhelmingly opposed. Common Cause, the League of Women Voters, NAACP Florida, Florida Rising, Equality Florida, All Voting Is Local, and other advocates said the bill would suppress grassroots participation, criminalize volunteers, create costly barriers, and favor wealthy or corporate interests. They objected especially to the bond, the new signer identification requirements, the shorter submission window, and the lack of notice when a petition is invalidated. A few supporters, including the Florida Chamber, backed the measure as a safeguard against fraud and outside influence. After debate, the committee did not reach a final vote on the bill in the portion provided, but the bill remained before the committee as amended.

Transcript Highlights:

• Overhead transmission and distribution has been the standard for decades, and undergrounding has been added
• From an energy diversity perspective, we are now adding low-cost solar and battery storage to our already
• And earlier this year, we added a new challenge to our system.
• That was a three-year pilot that was extended until the end of 2022, and it was formally added to our
• So if you're adding new capacity, you can just build that into the planned infrastructure, but as part

Summary: The committee met to hear invited presentations on storm recovery and storm protection from the Florida Public Service Commission, Florida Power & Light, Duke Energy, Tampa Electric, Chesapeake Utilities, and the Office of Public Counsel. The PSC reviewed the history of storm restoration financing and utility hardening efforts after major storms such as Hurricane Andrew, the 2004-05 hurricane seasons, Irma, and Michael, explaining storm reserve funds, storm recovery bonds, and the current three-year storm protection plan process. The commission’s role in approving plans and later reviewing prudence of actual costs was emphasized, along with the types of work included in the plans such as vegetation management, pole replacement, undergrounding, feeder hardening, and substation flood protection. The utilities described their own storm-hardening investments and recent storm performance. FPL said it has spent about $4.9 billion on storm protection and recovery-related efforts, highlighted improved restoration times during Helene and Milton, and said it is expanding undergrounding, feeder hardening, and smart-grid technology. Duke Energy reported more than 40,000 hardened poles and structures since 2021, major gains from self-healing grid technology, and faster restoration during recent storms. Tampa Electric described a roughly $200 million annual storm protection effort, including vegetation management, undergrounding, substation hardening, and new storm surge protections, and Chesapeake Utilities discussed its smaller-scale hardening program, vegetation work, pole replacement, and rapid restoration after Helene in Nassau County. Committee members asked about how utilities prioritize neighborhoods for lateral hardening, whether maps of planned projects could be shared, how much each utility has spent on undergrounding and hardening, and how reliability comparisons are normalized against the national average. Public Counsel Walt Trierweiler argued that storm recovery and hardening costs fall too heavily on investor-owned utility customers, said the current framework lacks a meaningful cost-benefit or prudence check at the planning stage, and urged broader sharing of storm costs because the benefits extend to the whole state. Senators also discussed whether the commission can review the reasonableness of approved programs and whether future reports or recommendations from Public Counsel would be helpful. No votes or formal actions were taken.

Transcript Highlights:

• In July 2024, DOEA expanded the ATMOD team by adding a project manager...
• In 2024, DOEA expanded the ATMOD team by adding a project manager and a business analyst.
• Some may be phased out, some may be added, but those numbers and the applications list did come from
• Legacy applications can't be added on because they've been there already.
• If you're going to be re-engineering that application and adding additional functionality, it may not

Summary: The subcommittee first heard a panel on state cloud modernization efforts after canceling an LBR on the Department of Corrections’ OBIS project because the presentation materials were not submitted on time. Florida Digital Service, the Northwest Regional Data Center, and several agencies described how the state is assessing and migrating applications to cloud environments under the cloud-first policy. Northwest explained its 2023 cloud readiness assessment of 890 applications from 24 agencies, the criteria used to rate readiness and risk, and its recommendation to tackle lower-risk applications first. Agency updates covered the Department of Corrections’ modernization of 98 legacy applications tied to OBIS and cloud-native infrastructure, the Department of Elder Affairs’ Microsoft Power Platform modernization, the Department of Health’s health management and child protection systems, and FDOT’s large cloud program for transportation systems. Members repeatedly asked about costs, data ownership, disaster recovery, single sign-on, security tools, and whether cloud migration actually saves money; presenters generally said the focus is more on modernization, resilience, and efficiency than immediate savings, and that cost analyses are often application-specific rather than enterprise-wide. The discussion also covered governance and architecture questions. Florida Digital Service said agencies remain responsible for their own databases and cloud tenants, while FLDS provides advice and an enterprise architecture framework; it does not have statutory oversight over most projects, except for OBIS project oversight due to its size. Northwest said it is acting as a cloud broker for some agencies and is consolidating Azure and AWS payer tenants to seek better pricing, but agencies still make system-by-system decisions based on business needs, risk, latency, and total cost of ownership. Members raised concerns about fragmented data structures, the lack of a complete statewide application inventory, and the need for better interoperability and enterprise standards. Several agencies said disaster recovery is built into their cloud plans, and FDOT and Corrections described ongoing efforts to keep systems current through core platforms, training, and ongoing support. In the second half of the meeting, the Department of State presented two new technology requests. Secretary Byrd described the SunBiz corporate registry system as a 34-year-old platform supporting more than 3.5 million business entities and generating over $575 million in annual general revenue. He said the department had already virtualized the legacy hardware after earlier modernization efforts failed and is now seeking $800,000 recurring for password protection and $5 million nonrecurring to continue procurement for a replacement system. The department also presented the Florida Voter Registration System modernization request, noting that the current system is outdated and requires manual workarounds for some statutory changes. The department requested $2.4948 million nonrecurring and $44,000 recurring to procure a modernized FVRS solution, and staff said the feasibility study recommended a hybrid approach. Members asked about the study’s findings and about creating a database for voter eligibility information for returning citizens; the department said that would require data sharing with all 67 clerks of court and other entities such as DOC.

Transcript Highlights:

• Together, UC research drives billions in economic activity, adding $55 billion to the economy every year
• Together, UC research drives billions in economic activity, adding $55 billion to the economy every year
• I'm a postdoctoral researcher at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab in AD 14, here in my personal capacity
• I’d like to be added as a co-author. Thank you very much. Great. Would you like to close, Mr.
• public evidence showing widespread auto glass fraud in California or anywhere else that justifies adding

Keywords: 988, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• And actually, there was one that was just added today: Maryland, and that case was dismissed as well.
• In each of those cases, the executive branch added conditions to the funding, and those conditions are
• What I can say about past terms and conditions that the federal government has added to funding streams
• largest commonality of the 61 cases that we filed, it is conditions that the executive branch has added
• streams where conditions have been added, where we have certified compliance with those conditions,

Keywords: 904, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I would love to be added as a co-author on the bill. body.
• I would love to be added as a co-author on the bill. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Go forward.
• We do everything we can in our power, and I'd be honored to be added as co-author.
• I'd be happy to be added as a co-author. I hope the opposition is working with you.
• So I would love to be added as a co-author on this bill.

Summary: The Assembly Business and Professions Committee heard several Senate bills, with most of the discussion focused on worker training, public safety, and consumer protection. SB 1203 by Senator Smallwood-Cuevas would expand training and de-escalation requirements for private security officers. Supporters, including security workers and labor groups, said the bill would better prepare officers who often respond first to mental health crises and violent incidents. Opponents, including security industry representatives and business groups, argued it would impose major costs, create training bottlenecks, and could reduce licensed security coverage. The committee ultimately voted the bill out on a due pass recommendation to Labor and Employment, with some members noting future amendments to address training capacity and employer-provided training. The committee also approved SB 936 by Senator Blakespear, which would restrict retail sales of nitrous oxide canisters larger than 8 grams while preserving legitimate medical, dental, culinary, and automotive uses. Support came from county officials, public health groups, waste management organizations, law enforcement, and local governments, who described rising misuse, impaired driving, and recycling hazards. No opposition testimony was presented, and the bill passed to Public Safety. SB 1271 by Senator Reyes, aimed at strengthening California’s midwifery training pipeline by requiring data collection on licensed midwife preceptor capacity, also passed unanimously to Health. Supporters said the bill would help address shortages in rural birth care and improve access to training for aspiring midwives. SB 903 by Senator Padilla, which would place guardrails on the use of AI in mental health and psychotherapy settings and prohibit AI from being marketed as a therapist, drew emotional testimony from a mother whose son died by suicide after extensive chatbot interactions. Health and behavioral health groups supported the measure, while several industry and health organizations were opposed unless amended; the committee nevertheless sent it to Privacy and Consumer Protection on a unanimous vote. The committee also approved SB 1165 on consent and then adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1184, amending Title 33, Chapter 4, Article 5, A.R.S., by adding Section 33-500.5, relating
• Senate Bill 1205, amending Title 9, Chapter 4, Article 5, A.R.S., by adding Section 9-500.5, relating
• Senate Bill 1210, amending Title 32, Chapter 30, Article 2, A.R.S., by adding Section 32-3024, relating
• Senate Bill 1561, amending Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 1, A.R.S., by adding Section 36-420.06, relating
• Senate Bill 1564, amending Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 1, A.R.S., by adding Section 36-420, relating

Summary: The House convened, opened with prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance, approved the journal, and then moved through a lengthy third-reading calendar. Early bills included SB 1135 on workers’ compensation, which passed 49-4, and SB 1127 on family offenses, which failed 5-50 after Rep. Gress said he supported the policy but voted no to allow reconsideration. SB 1133 on nominating procedures passed 32-23 without the emergency clause, and SB 1136 on workers’ compensation passed 54-1. Members then debated several health-related and regulatory measures, including SB 1145 on behavioral health behavior analysis, SB 1165 on health insurance coverage for breast exams, SB 1175 on child welfare, SB 1184 on condominiums and planned communities, SB 1205 on municipal regulations, SB 1210 on private post-secondary education institutions, and SB 1233 on state agencies, with mixed votes and several floor explanations focused on costs, insurance mandates, and public health benefits. The chamber also considered SB 1243 on court-ordered treatment, where supporters framed it as protecting vulnerable people and opponents warned about guardianship abuse and indefinite confinement; it passed 50-7. SB 1246 on condominium and planned community notices passed unanimously, while SB 1253 on Safe Haven providers passed 57-0. SB 1259 on campaign-related address confidentiality drew extensive debate about candidate safety, threats, and residency rules, and passed 43-14. Additional measures passed included SB 1271 on municipal authority, SB 1286 on veterinarians, SB 1292 on the public safety personnel retirement system, SB 1366 creating a towing and impound advisory committee, SB 1446, SB 1497 on school insurance, SB 1561 and SB 1564 on health care institutions, and several final-read House bills. On final reading, the House concurred in amendments to several bills and passed HB 2082, HB 296 on WIFA, HB 2557 on patient records, HB 2749 on reclassifying certain felony convictions to misdemeanors under strict conditions, and HB 4001 on nicotine products and youth access. HB 4001 drew the most extended debate, with supporters emphasizing youth protection, stronger penalties for sales to minors, and anti-vaping enforcement, while opponents criticized the bill as regulatory overreach or insufficiently focused on taxation and education. The House also adopted a motion to request the Senate return SB 1456 for reconsideration, heard a memorial resolution honoring James Hong Shee, and received remarks and a proclamation on National Gun Violence Awareness Day before recessing.

Transcript Highlights:

• Because I'm going plus minus plus and it's not adding up for me. Thank you. Thank you. Vice Chair.
• And in fact, it has the added language, as I mentioned, that says that the employer has to be able to
• I think now, by adding extra layers of bureaucracy, maybe there will be costs.
• I think that if we're adding any sort of layer of authorization, I think that if we're adding any sort
• I think it's like when we start looking at things that go outside of that by adding layers of bureaucracy

Summary: The House Committee on Labor and Industrial Relations met for its final meeting of the session and took up SB 312 by Senator Talbot, a bill concerning labor organizations, employee dues and fees, withdrawal from unions, collective bargaining agreements, and related notice and reporting requirements. The author explained the bill would require annual notice to employees of their right to join or refrain from joining a labor organization, allow dues deductions to be authorized and revoked electronically, and require stoppage of deductions at the nearest possible payroll period after notice. The committee first adopted a technical amendment set, then considered a larger amendment set that shifted the withdrawal request to the employer, required the employer to notify the labor organization, placed the burden of proving notice compliance on the labor organization, and made the labor organization responsible for certain administrative costs. Supporters said the bill protected employee choice and could reduce taxpayer-funded administrative burdens; opponents argued the amendments created confusion, unnecessary bureaucracy, and unclear invoicing and cost-shifting procedures. Testimony came from business and labor representatives on both sides. Jim Patterson of the Louisiana Association of Business and Industry supported the cost-shifting language as a way to protect taxpayers and public employers. Matt Wood, Peter Robbins-Brown, and Larry Carter, representing labor groups, said they had worked for months to reach a simpler opt-in/opt-out framework and objected to the new amendments as adding complexity and uncertainty. Several members questioned why police, firefighters, and later mass transit employees were exempted; the author and others said those exclusions were tied to federal law or because those groups had not requested inclusion. After debate, the committee adopted the large amendment set and then adopted a separate technical amendment adding mass transit employees to the exemption list. On the bill itself, members continued debating whether the measure was necessary if unions already allow members to opt out and whether the bill should apply only to public employees such as teachers and school workers. The committee ultimately voted to report SB 312 with amendments. The motion passed on a roll call vote, with several members voting no, and the meeting adjourned afterward.

Transcript Highlights:

• While Colorado continues adding costs and complexity, this bill sends the wrong message.
• Uh, I think it's a great amendment that needs added to this bill. So I'd urge a yes vote on 13.
• And so we're just adding to the list that if you're going to tease people, don't tease them for being
• In 2024, 241124 added financial penalties to criminal penalty for discriminating against KADA.
• This amendment would be added in section one at the very end.

Keywords: 981, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Chairman, I do appreciate you adding this as the revised.
• After thinking about this bill and just adding another choice, at my end of days, I've thought about
• And with the added temperature, I can find out how long.
• Added temperature, I can find out how long that takes, but I can tell you from experience, because I
• changes in the 70-page bill are simplifying the roofing statute by repealing duplicative sections added

Bills: HB4322, HB4202, HB4203, HB4457, HB3983, HB3660, HB3802, HB2933, HB2955, HB2956, HB3781, HB3521, HB3794, HB3796, HB3800

Keywords: funeral services licensing, funeral director, embalmer, funeral director in charge, dual licensure, mortuary science, Oklahoma Funeral Board, funeral establishment, commercial embalming establishment, crematory, cremation, alkaline hydrolysis, apprenticeship, licensing requirements, professional regulation, undertaker, mortician, burial services, death care industry, workers' compensation

Summary: The Business and Insurance Committee first handled a series of executive nominations, including appointments or reappointments to the Oklahoma Securities Commission, Real Estate Commission, State Athletic Commission, Accountancy Board, Commission on Consumer Credit, Uniform Building Code Commission, Abstractors Board, Used Motor Vehicle Dismantler and Manufactured Housing Commission, and State Banking Board. Most nominees briefly addressed the committee, and the nominations were advanced by unanimous or near-unanimous votes. One HB 4488 was laid over at the start of the meeting. The committee then considered several bills. HB 4322, which would remove a dual-licensure requirement for funeral directors and embalmers, drew questions about consumer protection and body care procedures and passed 6-3. HB 4202, changing workers’ compensation fee schedule treatment for radiology, passed unanimously. HB 4203, directing the Uniform Building Code Commission to explore guidelines for single-exit configurations in certain buildings up to four stories, passed 7-2 after concerns were raised about fire safety. HB 4457, dealing with specialty pharmacies, pharmacy benefit managers, and access to specialty medications, passed unanimously. Members also debated HB 3983, which would move Oklahoma’s moist smokeless tobacco tax to a weight-based system; supporters argued it would improve fairness and revenue stability, while opponents said it would raise taxes on some products and lacked consumer protections. It passed 6-3. HB 3660, authorizing natural organic reduction as an additional end-of-life option, prompted a lengthy debate over dignity, religious concerns, and consumer choice; it passed 5-4. HB 3802, prohibiting auto insurers from raising premiums solely because a spouse died, passed unanimously. HB 2933, a consumer protection insurance bill, passed 9-0 after extensive discussion of claims handling and insurer accountability. Additional insurance and regulatory measures—HB 2955, HB 2956, HB 3781, HB 3521, HB 3796, HB 3794, and HB 3800—were also advanced, most with little or no opposition. The chair closed by noting all executive nominations and legislation had been cleared from the committee for the year.

Transcript Highlights:

• They also removed the reverse appeal but added a repeal date of June 30th of '28.
• reverse uh we uh they also removed the reverse appealer<00:28:38.200> but<00:28:38.400> added
• repeal<00:28:39.120> date<00:28:39.520> of<00:28:39.760> June appealer but added
• I request to be added as a co-author to item 21 on today's calendar. Seeing no objection, granted.
• to item 21 on be added as a co-author to item 21 on today's<00:41:51.440> calendar.

Keywords: MS Senate Floor - 20 March, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The Senate opened with a quorum, an invocation by Dr. C. J. Rhodes, and the pledge of allegiance. Routine motions were adopted to dispense with reading the journal, committee reports, and bill titles. Several guests were introduced, including Ryan Golden of Congregation Beth Israel, students from First Baptist’s Friday program, the Magnolia Bar, Leadership Greater Jackson Youth Cohort members, a Doctor of the Day, and students from Anchor Christian Academy. On the calendar, the Senate took up a large block of resolutions and nominations. The chamber adopted numerous commendations and tributes, including resolutions honoring educators at MGCCC, Kappa Alpha Psi, Wavy Dave Chambers, Jasmine Ware, Nora Miller, multiple state championship teams, the Mississippi Forest Commission’s centennial, Colonel Charles Haynes, Robert “Bob” Dunlap, and others. The Senate also confirmed a block of Mississippi Emergency Communications Authority and advisory board nominations tied to the state’s NG911 implementation, after questions about who made the nominations; the response was that seven were gubernatorial and six lieutenant gubernatorial appointments. The nominations passed by morning roll call, with Senator McClendon voting no. The Senate then considered Senate Nomination No. 41, reappointing Thomas Allen Tom Wicker to the Information Technology Services Authority for a five-year term. Supporters cited his institutional and legal knowledge and long public service. That nomination also passed by morning roll call. Later, the Senate approved additional nominations in a block for the State Personnel Board and Public Procurement Review Board, including Donald Geary Don Brown, Hollis Raymond Ray Smith Jr. in two terms, and Rita Teresa Ray, with members noting clean peer reports and statutory eligibility; these too passed by morning roll call. In other business, the Senate concurred in a conference report on the State Board of Cosmetology and Barbering bill, with Senator Johnson explaining that the House made technical changes, removed executive director language and a reverse appeal, and added a June 30, 2028 repeal date. The Senate also adopted a block of nominations and resolutions without objection. At the end of the session, members requested excused absences and adjournments in memory of several individuals, and the Senate agreed to stand in recess until noon, with the journal to reflect adjournment until 4:00 p.m. Monday.

Transcript Highlights:

• All of this is taken into consideration when ADE is putting together the budget and when the governor
• ADE tabulates their budget request and they present it to you all during budget hearings, accommodating
• That's because ADE actually funded two years of projects.
• state, and other funding, as well as the collection and distribution of funding to districts and for ADE
• though this is a little bit different for open-enrollment charter schools, with their first year adding

Keywords: 1204, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So I appreciate adding those back to the tax base so that you, as policymakers alongside the governor
• includes two things: it adds NTTCs, which the Senator described as a real technical fix, and then added
• Madam Chair and Senators, could you explain first why those were added and then why they were taken out
• These were added as More of a recognition of the diverse group of medical providers that we have.
• But as I have listened to everybody and as I keep reading through this, we're adding We're pushing for

Bills: SB240

Keywords: capital outlay, capital projects, severance tax bonds, general fund appropriations, supplemental severance tax bonds, UNM School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, infrastructure, state buildings, courts, schools, higher education, road improvements, water and wastewater, tribal infrastructure, tribal projects, public safety, housing, emergency services, bonding

Transcript Highlights:

• Senate Bill 1051, amending Title 36, Chapter 4, Article 1, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding section
• Senate Bill 1316, enacting Title 36, Chapter 29, of the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding Section 36
• Statutes by adding Section 36-29-20.0 and relating to the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
• Senate Bill 1125, an act amending Title 8, Chapter 4, Arizona Revised Statutes, by adding Section 8-69.03
• Senate Bill 1316, an act amending Title 36, Chapter 29 of the Arizona Revised Statutes by adding Section

Keywords: 1182, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We're asking that that just be added to the recommended salary line item, which was $715,185.
• and we're asking that that just be added and we're asking that that just be added to<00:03:39.360
• This $53,486 has been added to our technology budget request in FY27.
• And with that, I yield for any questions that you may have. has been added to our technology budget has
• been added to our technology budget request<00:17:21.839> in<00:17:22.160> FY27.

Keywords: Appropriations - Room 216, 4 February, 2026; 9:00 AM, 925, all

Summary: The committee first heard from the Board of Dental Examiners on its FY27 budget request. Board staff said the agency licenses and regulates dentistry and dental hygiene in Mississippi, with nearly 7,500 licenses and permits. They described recent accomplishments, including implementation of a new database and completion of sedation-permit inspection requirements, and said those changes created about $80,000 in savings. The board’s main remaining request was a 3% staff progression costing $20,539; members also discussed a possible $29,000 ITS charge tied to House Bill 1491, though staff said that cost might no longer be needed if the funding shifts back to ITS. The board also explained its revenue sources, including dental, hygienist, and dental assistant x-ray permits, and clarified that the “radiology” permits are for dental assistants authorized to take x-rays. Members asked about fees, renewal cycles, sedation permit classes, and continuing education requirements, and the board said it was fully staffed and did not need vacancy funding. The committee then heard from the Board of Nursing, which said it regulates about 80,000 LPN, RN, and APRN licenses and oversees workforce programs and disciplinary matters. The board emphasized its Office of Nursing Workforce, noting more than $4 million in grants to nursing programs from 2019 to 2024 and thousands of scholarships awarded to nursing students, with recipients required to work in Mississippi for a period after graduation. It said staffing remains a major problem because salaries are not competitive, leading to difficulty filling positions; between October and December, 10 positions were posted and only two were filled. The board said the legislative budget recommendation would eliminate five positions, and it requested $112,466 in salary funding to restore and support staff pay, including a maximum 7% progression for nursing positions, a 4% increase for nonexecutive staff, and a 2% increase for executive staff. The nursing board also requested additional contractual and technology funding. It said House Bill 1491 would increase annual fees by $49,486 plus a one-time $3,000 data migration charge, and it requested $13,800 for an ongoing subscription tied to the military medics program assigned to the board in the prior session. It also said a proposed human trafficking bill would require another $10,000 if enacted. Members asked about the board’s cash balance, renewal cycles, and staffing structure, including investigatory and compliance functions, and the board said it had about 39 current employees and was monitoring roughly 130 people in compliance, including about 30 in a confidential monitoring program for substance use or severe psychiatric conditions. No votes were taken; the hearing concluded with members thanking both boards and inviting follow-up questions before appropriations decisions.

Transcript Highlights:

• Section 204D was added.
• Section 204D was added.
• Section 208A added the cemetery commission for the permanent appointments made by the select board.
• Section 208A added<00:26:58.960> the<00:26:59.120> cemetery<00:26:59.679> commission
• <00:27:00.159> for<00:27:00.320> the added the cemetery commission for the added the

Keywords: 926, house, all

Summary: The House opened with a devotional by Rep. Chris Keyser centered on Robert Frost’s “The Road Not Taken,” using the poem as a reflection on legislative choices, compromise, and service to the common good. After the devotional, the chamber took up a large slate of introductions, with 21 House bills read by number only after a successful motion to suspend the rules. The House also read HR12, a resolution supporting the principles behind Gov. Phil Scott’s statement regarding federal ICE and CBP activity in Minnesota, and placed it on the calendar for action the next legislative day. The House then concurred in JRS38, a joint Senate resolution setting weekend adjournment for January 30, 2026, to reconvene no later than February 3, 2026. During announcements, members recognized guests from Third Act Vermont, wished the member from Burlington a happy birthday, invited members to a Universal Health Care Caucus meeting, and promoted an evening Farmers Night performance. The House also voted to rescind journalization and expunge remarks previously entered by the member from Swanton from Friday’s House Journal. In orders of the day, the House rejected concurrence with the Senate’s further proposal of amendment to S.23, an act relating to the use of synthetic media in elections, and instead requested a committee of conference; the chair appointed Reps. Byron, Hango, and Waters Evans as conferees. The chamber then passed H532, relating to mandatory retirement of college professors. It also adopted the committee’s strike-all amendment to H270, relating to confidentiality for peer support counseling among emergency service providers, after favorable 11-0 committee action; the bill was then ordered to third reading. Finally, the House amended and ordered to third reading H516, approving amendments to the charter of the town of Essex, after discussion of charter changes including select board vacancies, moderator procedures, town appointments, accounting requirements, and related technical updates. The House then adjourned until January 29, 2026 at 3:30 p.m.

Transcript Highlights:

• He added that just because agents may assist with marketing and selling these types of things does not
• He added that the current law restricts someone like Leader Boyd from being able to talk about the program
• He added that consumers can review information the same way they evaluate an actual insurance product
• So again, I would ask that you vote no on 834 until new, better language can be added.
• of office supporting court-related entities, such as our state attorneys, public defenders, guardian ad

Summary: The committee heard and advanced several bills. SB 624, by Senator Yarborough, would allow batterers intervention programs to offer optional supplemental faith-based activities, with no participant required to take part; supporters said it would expand provider options amid a shortage of certified programs, while opponents raised concerns about government speech and mixing religion with court-ordered programming. After debate, the bill was reported favorably 7-2. The committee also considered CS/SB 834, which repeals a 2022 restriction preventing licensed insurance agents from marketing or selling health care sharing ministries; supporters framed it as restoring choice and free speech, while opponents warned about consumer confusion, commissions, and lack of insurance protections. It was reported favorably 8-2. The committee next approved CS/SB 502, via a strike-all amendment, to give Florida concurrent jurisdiction over certain juvenile offenses on military installations so juveniles can be handled in state juvenile court rather than federal court; the amendment and bill both passed unanimously. CS/SB 52 also passed unanimously after testimony from church leaders and security personnel supporting an exemption from Class D/G licensing for unpaid armed security volunteers at places of worship. Supporters said the bill would clarify legal gray areas and help churches afford security, while members noted the broader concern that houses of worship need armed protection at all. Finally, the committee reported favorably SB 840, which revises last year’s emergency/local planning law by narrowing its application after storms from 100 miles to 50 miles of the storm track and exempting certain water, flood, and state/federal planning matters; local government representatives supported the clarification, and the bill passed 9-0. CS/SB 758, as amended, updated the membership of the Justice Administration Commission to better reflect the entities it oversees, and it also passed 9-0. The meeting ended with a recorded affirmative vote from Senator DeSigley on SB 624.

Transcript Highlights:

• including, at a minimum, availability and immediate access to pediatric-specific equipment and supplies, adding
• Adding pediatrics to it, I don't know, would be particularly onerous.
• And that's why, with the sponsor's assistance a few years ago, we added those two additional years, which
• Second is there are some changes in this bill from last year, again, adding this preceptorship, I think
• is a great thing. ...in this bill from last year, again, adding this preceptorship, I think is a great

Summary: The committee heard and approved several health care bills. Senate Bill 68, by Senator Harrell, would require all hospital emergency departments to be prepared to treat children by maintaining pediatric equipment, staff training, written policies, a pediatric care coordinator, and completion/public posting of the National Pediatric Readiness Assessment. Senator Harrell said the bill is intended to improve pediatric emergency care in general hospitals, and the bill was supported by the Florida College of Emergency Physicians and the Florida Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics. It passed favorably. The committee also approved Senate Bill 154, which corrects the Mobile Act for dentists and dental hygienists by requiring graduates of out-of-state dental schools seeking licensure by endorsement to have attended a CODA-accredited school. The bill drew support from dental and dental hygienist groups and passed favorably. Senate Bill 40, by Senator Sharif, would require Medicaid managed care networks to ensure at least half of primary care providers offer appointments outside regular business hours, including evenings and weekends, to improve access and reduce emergency room use; it also passed favorably. A lengthy discussion centered on Senate Bill 254, also by Senator Harrell, which would tighten oversight of nursing education programs, create a temporary provisional license and preceptorship for new graduates awaiting NCLEX results, require remediation for low-performing programs, add standardized admission and exit-exam requirements, and allow the Department of Health to inspect programs unannounced. Supporters said the bill would improve quality and help students gain experience, while opponents warned it could reduce the number of nursing programs and worsen shortages, especially among private schools. After debate and testimony from nursing and school representatives, the bill passed favorably, with Senator Davis voting no. The committee then received an OPPAGA presentation on interstate health care licensure compacts. OPPAGA reviewed how Florida uses licensure by endorsement, telehealth registration, and compacts for nurses, psychologists, and physicians, and explained the potential benefits and drawbacks of joining additional compacts, including portability, data sharing, and emergency staffing versus costs, administrative burdens, and possible conflicts with Florida scope-of-practice laws. No action was taken on the presentation, and the meeting adjourned after Senator Davis requested to be recorded in support of SB 68 and SB 154.

Transcript Highlights:

• We're adding a repeater so that all of our communications work very well throughout the campus.
• We're adding a repeater so that all of our communications work very well throughout the campus.
• <00:07:31.680> We're<00:07:31.919> adding<00:07:32.160> a on the exterior of
• We're adding a on the exterior of it.
• We're adding a repeater<00:07:32.720> so<00:07:32.880> that<00:07:33.120> all<00

Keywords: 928, house, all

Summary: The Capital Project Overview Committee approved the minutes from its February 24 meeting and then received a briefing on the legislative parking garage from Terry Poff, Chief Operating Officer for the General Court. He reported that the pre-stressed concrete garage, being built with panels fabricated by Unistress in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, remains on schedule, with erection expected in late July through August and functional occupancy targeted for March 17, 2026. He said the garage will provide 409 spaces, security cameras, a communications repeater, and a maintenance plan developed from the outset. In response to questions, he explained nearby street excavation is for drainage vaults and oil-water separators, and that temporary closures will be needed during panel deliveries. He also said the garage was designed with future EV charging infrastructure in mind, but current charging stations would need to be located outside the secure facility; he has begun discussions with city officials about possible curbside charging options. The committee then heard and approved a $754,000 capital request for Cannon Mountain/Franconia Notch State Park maintenance projects. The request, recommended by the Cannon Mountain Advisory Commission, covers lodge exterior repairs, lift maintenance, snowmaking pipe replacements and pump controls, and equipment purchases to improve maintenance operations. The committee approved the item after brief discussion. Next, the Department of Transportation presented two toll-credit requests. The first, CAP 250007, sought toll credits to support transportation planning, regional planning commissions, GIS and asset-management work, and related federal planning requirements; members asked about coordination with Granite data and the effect of a prior budget decision on regional planning officers, and staff said the request would not affect the regular federally funded program. The committee approved the item. The second, CAP 25010, sought $245,000 in toll credits for bus terminal improvements, regional mobility management, a statewide transit assessment, and an intercity bus pilot intended to connect Keene with southern New Hampshire or Concord. Members asked about the subsidy structure and ridership reporting; staff said the intercity service would be a net-cost subsidy and agreed to provide updated ridership and route information. The committee approved this item as well. At the end of the meeting, the committee noted that a quarterly capital projects report from DAS and the community college system was informational only, and members opted not to hear a separate presentation that day. The next meeting was set for September 29 at 9:00 a.m., with a request to invite HHS to discuss closed-loop referral system projects. Members also asked for future updates on the planned sale of the Cenuunu Center, and the committee adjourned after a motion carried.